Wind Breakers & Ultra Breathable Raingear

[PathFinder]

There's been quite a bit of interest lately in the backpacking community and here on Rokslide in Alpha Direct type insulation layers combined with windbreakers. It took a while for me to listen but the weight savings finally caught my attention. Transitioning to an Alpha Direct 120 fleece layer and windbreaker should cut about 6 oz out of my pack while providing more adaptability for high exertion in the cold and for windy conditions. The new system would also take up about 1/4 of the volume of a typical fleece.
I'm hoping to get some input from others on windbreakers others have used with similar setups. There is also a class of extremely breathable rain jacket that may be able to fill both the role of a rain layer and windbreaker. In reasonable western hunting conditions, that could cut an additional 12+ ounces. If anyone has experience with those it would be very welcome here as well. This thread will be used to compile user experience about both types.

Windbreakers;

• Patagonia Houdini
• Kifaru Windriver
• Zpacks
• EE Copperfield
• Various others to be added

Highly Breathable Raingear:

• Zpacks
• EE Visp

 

[fngTony]

Houdini is pretty good for what a wind shell should be. It does lean towards weather resistance vs breathing but I think that is more ideal for hunting as we aren’t active for as long of a period of time as a runner would be. It’s not quite and doesn’t stretch which are my only complaints. Durability is better than expected for what it is.

Took it out a few times with an alpha 90 over an OR sun hoodie (nearly identical fabric to the Sitka core lwh). Well the alpha hoodie got sold, maybe the heavier 120 would have met my expectations. Cool to cold conditions of 25-45 with some wind gusting 20mph. I never got warm enough after a mix of jogging and speed walking for two miles. Now running the entire time might have done it but that’s not an exertion level I do while hunting.

The alpha direct material doesn’t stretch and the cuts aren’t ideal for layering. Also I didn’t find it any warmer than a standard fleece, just half the weight. I found my current midlayer (OR Deviator hoodie) to do everything better except for the weight. I do like having the Houdini for specific applications. For hunting and saving weight I would recommend the Kuiu peloton 97 over an alpha direct hoodie with only a 1.5oz weight penalty.

Edit to add, I read that the EE visp is on its last run, material no longer available. Maybe they will find an alternative.

 

[fngTony]

To answer your question on an ultra breathable rain jacket to double as a wind breaker, no. I haven’t found one that I thought would withstand the friction from a hunting pack. The new SG X1 jacket might be that but I’ll wait for a while to see what people put it through. It’s certainly light and packable enough.

I would risk rubbing through my Houdini jacket as it’s relatively cheap and wouldn’t be my only shell.

 

[Maverick1]

Maybe consider adding the First Spear Wind Cheater or the HPG Wind Cheater. Do not own one but have read they are highly regarded.

 

[n816kc]

good info from @mtwarden

in praise of the windshirt

if you do a search of "windshirt" on this site- I guarantee you my name will pop up dozens of times- I'm a huge fan of windshirts and without a shadow of a doubt they are my most used piece of clothing as the name would imply- they do block wind, but unlike a hardshell (rain jacket) that also...

bushcraftusa.com

 

[Poser]

My preferred windbreaker is the Black Diamond Alpine Start which is a shoeller fabric. The versatility on these is pretty astounding. I use one all summer in the high country, crisp morning when turley hunting, always have one when hunting in the Fall, also serves as my shell 90% of the time when backcountry skiing and perfect over a sun hoody for Spring skiing at the resort.